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4EN  BLINDED  IN  BATTLE  have 
to    the    United    States  Government 


^EER   AMERICAN  WORK 

OF  THE  COMMITTEE 
FOR   MEN   BLINDED  IN  BATTLE 

The  HON.  JOHN  H.  FINLEY,  Acting  President 
111  East  59th  Street,  New  York 


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Report  of  MISS  WINIFRED  HOLT 

President  of  the  Committee  in  France 

Along  with  accounts  of  THE  OPENING  of  THE  PHARE  at  SEVRES 
and  of  CHRISTMAS  and  NEW  YEAR'S  at  THE  PHARE  at  PARIS. 

The  Committee  for  Men  Blinded  in  Battle  has  now  three  Lighthouses 
(Phares)  in  France. 

It  was  the  first  American  organization  that  we  know  of  to  be  formed 
to  aid  the  war  blind  of  the  Allies.  Our  name  was  chosen  so  that  we 
could,  without  changing  it,  be  in  a  position  to  aid  any  men  blinded  because  of 
hostilities,  whether  soldiers,  doctors,  ambulanciers,  or  those  unfortunate  vic- 
tims of  explosions  in  munition  factories,  or  those  of  any  nation  whom  we 
wished  to  help.  Among  the  nationalities  whose  soldiers  we  have  aided  are 
French,  Italian,  Belgian,  Scotch,  Canadian,  Polish,  Russian,  Arabian,  Swedish, 
etc.,  etc.  Our  three  French  Lighthouses  have  assisted  about  3,500  men—  blind, 
temporarily  blind,  or  suffering  from  head  wounds,  which  prevented  their 
using  their  eyes.  They  are  daily  assisting  about  150  men  and  giving  about 
2,800  lessons  monthly.  We  have  given  away  about  10,000  gifts  to  the  War 
Blind.    A  list  of  our  activities  may  be  found  in  this  report. 

We  have  done  permanent  as  well  as  temporary  work. 

"Ex    Tenebris    Lux" 
From    Darkness    Light 

Our  Phare  (Lighthouse)  Motto 


1 


71 


V 


A  Report  to 

The  Committee 
for   Men   Blinded  in   Battle 

Hon.  John  H.  Finley,  Acting  President 

ALONG  WITH 
ACCOUNTS    OF 

THE  OPENING  OF  THE  PHARE  AT  SEVRES 
CHRISTMAS  AT  THE  PHARE  IN  PARIS 
NEW    YEAR'S    AT    THE   PHARE   IN    PARIS 


By  Miss  Winifred  Holt 

Presidente  du 

Comite  Franco-Americain 

pour  les  Aveugles  de  la  Guerre 

Vice-President  of 

The  Committee  for  Men  Blinded  in  Battle 


Le  Phare  de  France 
14  rue  Daru 
Paris 


May,  1918 


Copyright,  1918 
The  Committee  for  Men  Blinded  in  Battle 


The  entire  expense  of  printing  this  Report  has  been 
defrayed  by  a  generous  friend,  who  has  always  been 
actively  interested    in  the  work  of  the    Committee. 


3& 


FOREWORD 

BY   THE   HON.    CHARLES    E.    HUGHES, 
Vice-President  of  the  Committee  for  Men  Blinded  in  Battle. 

Some  years  ago  Lighthouse  Xo.  1  for  the  blind  was  established  in  New  York. 
It  was  an  enterprise  opening  avenues  of  usefulness  to  those  who  had  been  ren- 
dered seemingly  helpless  by  one  of  the  greatest  misfortunes.  While  the  under- 
taking was  rooted  in  a  common  sense  appreciation  of  the  immediate  needs  of  the 
blind,  and  was  eminently  practical  in  its  methods  of  individual  adaption,  it  was 
inspired  and  controlled  by  the  most  tender  sympathy  and  personal  interest,  thus 
ensuring  the  lasting  success  which  mere  charity  mechanism  can  never  achieve. 

It  was  natural  that  those  engaged  in  this  work  should  have  early  appre- 
ciated the  need  of  similar  relief  for  soldiers  blinded  in  battle.  The  Committee 
for  Men  Blinded  in  Battle  was  the  pioneer  American  Organization.  Its  Presi- 
dent, from  the  time  of  the  formation  of  the  Committee  until  his  death,  was  the 
late  foseph  H.  Choate,  and  I  venture  to  say  that  no  philanthropic  endeavour  in 
the  wide  range  of  his  notable  service  was  closer  to  his  heart.  This  beautiful 
ministry  in  the  re-direction  of  the  effort  of  those  deprived  of  sight  was  to  him 
an  irresistible  attraction.  Miss  Winifred  Holt,  the  successful  organizer  and 
director  of  the  work  in  New  York,  went  to  Bordeaux  as  delegate  of  the  Com- 
mittee in  June,  1915,  and  the  Phare  de  Bordeaux  was  established.  Soon  after, 
the  Phare  de  France  was  started  in  Paris,  and  recently,  still  another  Phare  has 
been  opened  at  Sevres. 

It  is  difficult  to  conceive  the  tragic  sense  of  helplessness  which  comes  to  the 
soldier  suddenly  stricken  with  blindness.  To  him,  the  Phare  opens  a  new  world 
of  happiness  and  endeavour.  There  is  no  rigid  curriculum,  no  inflexible  scheme 
of  training,  but  an  intelligent  effort  suited  to  the  individual  case.  Opportunity  is 
given  for  study  and  recreation,  for  the  learning  of  handicrafts  and  trades,  and 
life  begins  anew  when  it  seemed  hopelessly  darkened  and  crushed.  The  econ- 
omic importance  of  the  work  is  obvious,  but  this  humane  beneficence  is  its  most 
striking  feature.  When  we  read  in  the  Committee's  report  that  those  who  leave 
the  Phare  may  at  once  obtain  lucrative  employment,  that  students  have  con- 
tinued their  studies  and  taken  their  degrees,  that  teachers  have  resumed  their 
classes,  that  in  a  score  or  more  of  vocations  men  are  finding  opportunities  ac- 
cording to  their  aptitudes,  we  realize,  at  least  in  part,  what  has  been  accomplished 
bv  those  who  with  rare  skill  and  devotion  are  carrying  out  the  Committee's  plans. 

The  blinded  soldier  has  been  fighting  for  our  liberty  and  it  is  our  privilege 
through  this  agency  to  bring  to  him  the  light  of  training  and  re-education,  thus 
enabling  him  to  reconstruct  a  life  of  usefulness  and  contentment. 

Charles  E.  Hughes. 


11 


THE    PRESIDENT    OF   THE   FRENCH    REPUBLIC 
Monsieur    Poincare    opened    the    French    Lighthouse    for    the  Blind,  on  August  8th,  1916. 


111 


381232 


LETTER  FROM  .AIRS.  PETER  COOPER  HEWITT, 
Secretary  of  The  Committee  for  Men  Blinded  in  Battle. 

I  hope  most  earnestly  that  you  will  be  interested  enough  to  read  this  report. 
I  do  wish  you  could  see  the  men  at  the  Phare  de  France ! 

In  the  winter  of  1914,  when  I  was  living  in  the  house  I  had  in  Paris,  which 
I  turned  into  a  hospital,  a  friend  came  to  ask  me  to  go  and  see  conditions  at  the 
"Quinze-Yingts,"  where  the  War  Blind  were  housed  in  a  small  house,  that  had 
just  been  completed  for  contagious  eye  diseases. 

There  were  eighty-four  blind  men  being  looked  after  by  four  Sisters  of 
Charity.  I  have  never  forgotten  that  first  visit  and  the  impression  of  those  men, 
sitting  beside  their  beds  in  their  uniforms ;  those  immobile,  helpless  figures ;  eyes 
gone  and  sitting  with  nothing  being  done  to  help  their  hopelessness  ;  no  attempt 
at  work  for  their  hands  or  distraction  of  any  kind.  The  head  sister  said  it  was 
heart  touching.  These  men  were  so  cast  down;  if  something  could  only  be  done 
for  their  morale ;  also  they  needed  many  things ;  blankets,  wrappers,  pillows,  but 
above  all,  some  distraction. 

I  tried  to  interest  friends  to  go  and  make  some  effort  to  amuse  them.  One 
woman  took  her  victrola  and  left  it  there,  returning  two  afternoons  a  week  to 
play  and  read  to  them.  Through  the  American  Red  Cross,  I  gave  them  pillows, 
wrappers  and  blankets,  and  I  often  took  cakes  and  sandwiches  in  the  afternoon, 
and  tried  to  help  them  a  little,  but,  oh,  the  pathos  of  those  hopeless  men  with 
their  bandaged  eyes,  who  had  given  so  much  for  their  country  ! 

I  came  home  in  January,  1915,  and  far  and  away  the  saddest  impression  I 
brought  back  with  me  was  those  blind  soldiers. 

After  a  bit.  Miss  Holt  came  to  ask  me  about  the  War  Blind,  and  I  told  her 
about  them — everyone  was  so  busy  and  there  was  so  much  to  do  in  those  early 
days  of  the  war  in  France — so  we  formed  The  Committee  for  Men  Blinded  in 
Battle,  and  Mr.  Choate  became  the  President.  It  was  a  very  real  love  he  had  for 
this  work  and  what  we  accomplished  was  a  great  satisfaction  to  him,  up  to  his 
death  last  May.  Since  then  we  have  added  the  workshop,  or  rather  studio,  at 
Sevres  and  also  Bordeaux,  to  our  usefulness. 

Miss  Holt  went  to  France  in  June,  1915,  to  take  up  the  work  of  the  Com- 
mittee and  I  joined  her  in  December  to  help  get  into  our  home  in  the  Rue  Daru. 
We  were  the  first  American  Committee  to  do  work  for  the  War  Blind,  and  at 
the  time  we  were  so  in  advance  of  what  was  being  done  for  blind  soldiers,  that  the 
Government  called  our  work  the  Re-education  of  the  Intellectual  Blind,  for 
the  French  Government  was  then  only  teaching  chair-caning,  brush-making,  and 
basketry,  and  other  simple  things  more  for  peasants,  and  the  work  of  our  Com- 
mittee opened  a  new  field  for  men  who  were  of  a  different  intelligence  and  class. 
Again  I  say,  I  only  wish  you  could  see  them  at  work.  They  are  so  appreciative 
of  what  their  American  friends  have  done  for  them,  in  their  home  (The  Light- 
house), where  they  receive  their  re-education. 

I  hope  that  you  will  not  forget  them  now  and  will  keep  this  work  going  on 
in  its  present  useful  and  efficient  way. 

Now  that  I  am  here  and  cannot  see  the  men — when  they  write  letters  like 
the  one  I  am  adding  to  this,  I  remember  what  the  re-education  seemed  to  be  to 
them,  and  I  do  feel  that  the  Light  of  the  Phare  (Lighthouse)  has  not  been  lighted 
in  vain. 

Won't  you  help  to  keep  it  burning  for  the  BLIND  SOLDIERS? 

Very  sincerely, 

L.  Hewitt. 

iv 


A  LETTER  FROM  THE  EX-ADJUTANT  LAGARDE,  A  SOLDIER 

BLINDED  IN  BATTLE 

To  Mrs.  Peter  Cooper  Hewitt. 

Madame:  Brive.  May  21,  1917. 

After  thirteen  months  of  re-education  at  the  Phare  de  France,  14  rue  Daru, 
Paris,  I  returned  to  my  home,  where  my  wife  and  daughter  were  waiting  for  me. 

I  could  not  leave  this  splendid  institution  without  writing  to  you,  our  Vice- 
President.  Your  stay  at  the  Phare  was  far  too  brief,  and  my  comrades  and  I 
deeply  regret  that  we  do  not  see  you  any  more. 

I  often  recall  that  farewell  luncheon,  when  Commandant  Sallerin  tried  to 
tell  you  briefly  all  that  we  felt  for  you. 

My  re-education  at  the  Phare  was  accomplished  under  the  most  favourable 
conditions.  I  have  learned  to  use  the  knitting  machine,  and  find  it  most  satis- 
factory for  the  blind.  I  have  also  learned  to  read  and  to  write  Braille.  When  I 
decided  to  return  to  my  home,  I  was  joyfully  surprised  to  receive  the  gift  of  a 
knitting  machine,  which  would  enable  me  to  work  and  to  add  to  my  pension, 
which  was  not  sufficient  to  provide  the  necessities  of  life.  But  my  generous 
American  friends  had  yet  another  surprise  for  me.  I  was  to  have  five  thousand 
francs  to  buy  a  house,  which  had  been  my  life-long  dream. 

I  could  never  adequately  express  my  gratitude,  but  from  the  depths  of  my 
heart,  I  say  "Thank  you."  I  beg  you  to  tell  my  American  friends,  far  more  elo- 
quently that  I  could,  all  that  I  feel  for  them. 

My  life  will  not  be  long  enough  to  tell  what  America  has  done  for  those 
who  have  fought  in  the  Cause  of  Right  and  Liberty,  and  now,  with  the  Stars 
and  Stripes  beside  the  Tricolor,  Justice  will  surely  triumph. 

I  envy  my  comrades  who — more  fortunate  than  I — will  be  privileged  to 
fight  side  by  side  with  the  Americans. 

I  have  been  home  about  two  weeks,  and  am  settling  down  to  steady  work. 
I  shall  have  plenty  to  do,  but  getting  sufficient  wool  will  be  the  great  difficulty, 
as  it  is  extremely  dear  and  there  is  not  much  of  it.  However,  I  hope  that  can  be 
arranged. 

When  I  first  arrived,  I  looked  for  a  house  within  the  price  so  generously 
offered  by  the  Committee,  but  at  this  time  I  can  find  nothing  sufficiently  moder- 
ate. I  shall  wait  patiently  and  when  an  opportunity  occurs  I  shall  seize  it  im- 
mediately. 

I  beg  you  to  accept  the  heartfelt  thanks  of  my  family  and  myself  for  having 
made  it  possible  for  me  to  take  up  life  again.  To  you  and  to  all  our  generous 
friends  I  say  "Thank  you." 

O.  Lagarde. 


TRANSLATION    OF    THE    ADDRESS    OF    GENERAL    FEVRIER    ON 

BESTOWING  THE  GOLD  MEDAL  IN  THE  NAME  OF  THE  PRESIDENT 

OF  THE  FRENCH  REPUBLIC  ON  MISS  WINIFRED  HOLT 

AT  THE  FRENCH  LIGHTHOUSE  IN  PARIS,  APRIL  10,  1918. 


Today,  side  by  side  with  our  soldiers  on  the  soil  of  France,  the  American 
soldiers  are  battling  bravely  for  justice  and  for  liberty.  But  even  in  advance 
of  their  army  from  the  start  of  the  war  America  has  sent  us  an  admirable  pha- 
lanx to  battle  against  the  evils  of  war,  and  to  ease  its  sufferings. 

I  cannot,  without  emotion,  recall  the  so  precious  aid  which  the  American 
Ambulance  gave  during  the  glorious  days  of  the  Marne  to  the  Directors  of  the 
Sanitary  Corps  of  the  Military  Government  of  Paris  for  the  relief  and  treatment 
of  our  wounded.  And  you  yourself,  Miss  Holt,  in  the  year  1915,  with  your 
high  intelligence  and  great  heart  brought  to  our  battle-blinded  your  devotion  with- 
out stint. 

As  you  yourself  have  so  eloquently  said,  you  collected  the  munitions  and 
organized  tactics  and  strategy  to  wage  war  against  darkness  ;  you  have  lit  Le 
Phare  de  France. 

For  the  magnificent  spirit  of  kindness  and  responsibility  which  has  been 
dedicated  to  the  most  sorely-tested  of  our  wounded  men,  for  the  splendid  work 
you  have  created,  you  have  won  the  right  to  onr  unchanging  gratitude. 

Therefore  I  am  proud  and  happy  on  behalf  of  the  President  of  the  Repub- 
lic and  the  under-Secretary  of  State  for  the  Service  du  Sante,  to  confer  upon 
you  the  gold  Medal  of  Foreign  Affairs. 


MISS   WINIFRED   HOLT 

Presidente   du   Comite    Franco-Americain   pour   les   Aveugles 

de    la    Guerre. 
Vice-President  of  the  Committee  for  Men  Blinded  in  Battle 

(from  a  photograph  by  Rochlitz,  New  York). 

Miss  Holt  on  April  10th,  1918,  received  a  gold  medal  from 
the  French  Government  in  recognition  of  her  splendid  achieve- 
ments in  the  re-education  of  the  French  soldiers  blinded 
in  battle. 


vn 


WORKING  TOGETHER 

FOR  MEN  BLINDED  IN  BATTLE 

In   France 

LE       COMITE       FRANCO- AM  ERICAIN       POUR      LES      AVEUGLES      DE       LA       GUERRE 

Headquarters :    14  rue  Daru,  Paris 

Telephone,    Passy   49.39 

Under  the  Patronage  of : 

The  President  of  the  French  Republic 

The  Ambassador  of  the  United  States  to  France 

The    Minister    of    War 

The   Minister  of   Marine 

The  Minister  of  the  Interior 

The   Minister  of   Public   Instruction 

The   Minister  of   Works   and 

Conseil 

Miss   Winifred    Holt,   Prcsidente 

Mrs.  Peter  Cooper  Flewitt,  Vice-Preside nte 

Monsieur  Ernest  Mallet,  Regent  of  the  Bank  of  France,   Tresorier 

The  Hon.  J.  Ridgely  Carter,  Secretaire 

Monsieur  le  Comte  Louis  de  Vogue 

Mrs.  Robert  Woods  Bliss 

In   America 

THE    COMMITTEE    FOR    MEX    BLINDED    IX    CATTLE 

Headquarters:     111   East  59th  Street.   New  York 
Telephone,   Plaza   3370 

Under  the  Patronage  of : 

The  President  of  the  United  States 

and  the  Governor  of  New  York 

Executive  Committee 

The   Hon.   John   H.   Finley,  Acting  President 
Miss   Winifred    Holt  \ 
The   Hon.   William   Howard   Taft  >-  Vice-Presidents 
The  Hon.  Charles  E.  Hughes  ) 

The  Rt.  Rev.  David  H.  Greer,  D.D.,  Honorary  CJiairman 
Mrs.  Peter  Cooper  Hewitt,  Secretary 
Mr.  William  Forbes  Morgan,  Jr.,  Treasurer 
Mrs.   Charles   B.  Alexander  Mr.  Joseph  Howland  Hunt 

Miss  Emily  H.  Bourne  Mrs.  John  Magee 

The  Hon.  Thomas  P.  Gore,  U.  S.  S.        The  Hon.  Herbert  L.  Satterlee 
Mr.  A.  Barton  Hepburn  Mr.  Arthur  Williams 

viii 


GENERAL  O  >MMITTEE 
FOR  MEN  BLINDED  IN  BATTLE. 


Mr.  Edward  E.  Allen 

Mrs.  William  B.  Anderton 

Mr.  Joseph  S.  Auerbach 

Mrs.  Francis  S.  Barlow 

Mrs.  Edmund  L.   Baylies 

Hon.  Livingston  Beeckman 

Mrs.  Livingston  Beeckman 

Mrs.  August  Belmont 

Mrs.  Frederic  H.   Betts 

Mrs.  Ernest  Bigelow 

Hon.  Charles  J.  Bonaparte 

Mr.  Edson  Bradley 

Mrs.  Nicholas  F.  Brady 

Mrs.  Arthur  Scott  Burden 

Dr.  Nicholas  Murray  Butler 

Mrs.  Nicholas  Murray  Butler 

Mrs.  Chester  W.  Chapin 

Mrs.  John  Cadwalader 

Mrs.  Joseph  H.  Choate 

Mrs.  Henry  Clews 

Mr.  Frederic  R.  Coudert 

Mrs.  Ralph  Adams  Cram 

Mrs.  William  Crozier 

Mrs.  Paul  D.  Cravath 

Mrs.  R.  Fulton  Cutting 

The  Rev.  Cameron  Davis 

Mrs.  Henry  P.  Davison 

Miss  Louise  Dawson 

Mrs.  William  K.  Draper 

Mrs.  Margaret  Deland 

Mrs.  Frederick  Edey 

Mrs.  Newhold  LeRov  Edgar 

Dr.  Charles  W.  Eliot 

Mrs.  Stephen  B.  Elkins 

Mrs.  George  V.   Forman 

Mrs.  Amos  T.  French 

Mrs.  Richard  Gambrill 

Mrs.  T.  Harrison  Garrett 

Mr.  J.   Pennington  Gardiner 

Mrs.  Elbert  H.  Gary 

His  Eminence  James  Cardinal  Gibbons 

Mrs.  Charles  Dana  Gibson 

Mrs.  Douglas  Huntley  Gordon 

General  Gorgas 

Mrs.  F.  Gray  Griswold 

Mrs.  E.  H.  Harriman 

Mrs.  Henry  Burton  Jacobs 

Mrs.  Julian  James 

Mrs.  Francis  M.  Jencks 

Miss  Annie  Burr  Jennings 

Mrs.  Frederick  P.  Keppel 

Mr.  Willard  V.  King 

Mrs.  Alfred  Partridge  Klots 

Mrs.  Lewis  Cass  Ledvard 


Mrs.  C.  Grant  LaFarge 

Mr.  Adolph  Lewisohn 

Senator  Lodge 

Mrs.  Seth  Low 

Mrs.  Philip  M.  Lvdig 

Rev.  J.  L.  Magnes,  D.D. 

Rev.  Wm.  T.   Manning,  D.D. 

The  Honorable  Pierre  Mali 

Mr.  Howard  Mansfield 

Hon.  Theodore  Marburg 

Mrs.  James  W.  Markoe 

Miss  Fannv  Mason 

Mr.  Russell  W.  Moore 

Mrs.  William  Fellowes  Morgan 

Mrs.  Levi   P.  Morton 

The  Right  Rev.  John  Gardner  Murray,  D.D. 

Mrs.  Waldo  Newcomer 

Miss  Sara  Norton 

Mrs.  Henry   Fairfield   Osborn 

Mrs.  William  Church  Osborn 

Mrs.  Stephen  Henry  Olin 

Mrs.   Henry  Parkman 

Mrs.  Henry  Phipps 

Mrs.  Thomas  Jex  Preston,  Jr. 

Mrs.  Dyneley  Prince 

Mrs.  Joseph  Pulitzer 

Mrs.  Roche 

Mrs.  H.  H.  Rogers 

Mrs.  Thomas  F.  Ryan 

Mrs.  Herbert  L.  Satterlee 

Mr.  Georee  P.   Sawyer 

Mr.  Jacob  H.  Schiff 

Mrs.  William  Jay   Schieffelin 

Mr.  J.  G.  Schmidlapp 

Miss  Louisa  Lee  Schuyler 

Mrs.  Henry  Dwight  Sedgwick 

Mr.  Finley  J.  Shepard 

Mrs.  R.  Manson  Smith 

Mr.  Francis  Lynde  Stetson 

Mrs.  Henry  C.  Sturges 

Mrs.  Rutherford  Stuyvesant 

Mrs.  Frederick  F.  Thompson 

Mrs.  Richard  Trimble 

Dr.  Charles  Van  Bergen 

Mrs.  Samuel  C.  Van  Dusen 

Mrs.  French  Vanderbilt 

Miss  Edith  Wetmore 

Mrs.  Wharton 

Dr.  Schuyler  Skaats  Wheeler 

Mr.  Louis  Wiley 

Mrs.  Helen  S.  Woodruff 

Mrs.  Clinton  Wyckoff 

Dr.  Charles  Wood 


IX 


A  FEW  OF  THE  VOLUNTEER  WORKERS  OF 

"LE  PHARE  DE  FRANCE" 

(The  Lighthouse  of  France) 

Comtesse  d'Audiffret  Pasquier  Mrs.  N.  Allison 

Comtesse  de  Liedekerque  Mr.  Leslie  Cauldwell 

Comtesse  de  la  Redorte  Miss  Cauldwell 

Baronne  de  Fleury  Miss  Cleveland* 

Madame  Bouwens  Van  der  Boijen  Miss  Dickerson 

Madame  de  Janasz  Mrs.  Dunlop 

Madame  de  Monti  de  Reze  Mrs.  W.  W.  Fahnestock 

Madame  Fischbacher  Mrs.  Canfield  Fisher 

Madame  Gallay  Miss  Jackson 

Madame  Puerari  Miss  Kane 

Mile.  Fourquez  Miss  Virginia  McKee 

Mile.  M.  L.  Hellier  Mrs.  H.  M.  Nichols 

Mile.  Tallon  Miss  Sharp 

Mile,  van  der  Henst  Miss  Thorndyke 

Mrs.  M.  C.  Allen  Mrs.  S.  C.  Wolcott 

*Mrs.  William   S.  B.  Bosanquet 

We  regret  that  the  above  list  is  neither  complete  nor  up  to  date.     War  con- 
ditions have  made  vain  our  efforts  to  get  a  full  and  revised  one  from  France. 


A  FEW  OF  THE  MEN  WHO  HAVE  AIDED 
THE  WORK  OF  THE  PHARE. 

Owing  to  these  conditions  it  has  been  impossible  to  get  even  an  approx- 
imate list  of  our  volunteer  men  workers.  We  have,  however,  appended  the 
names  of  a  few  who  have  rendered  us  valuable  service,  actively  or  in  an  advis- 
ory capacity. 

The  late  Monsieur  le  Marquis  de  Vogue — President  de  la  Croix  Rouge  Fran- 
caise  et  de  la  Societe  des  Secours  aux  blesses  militaires. 

Monsieur   le   Comte   de   Gabriac. 

Monsieur  le  Comte  de  Polignac. 

Monsieur  Brisac — Directeur  de  l'Assistance  et  de  l'Hygiene  Publique  au  Min- 
istere  de  lTnterieur. 

Monsieur  de  Piessac — du  Ministere  de  la  Guerre. 

Monsieur  le  Medecin-Major  de  Lapersonne — Professor  a  l'hotel  Dieu,  Membre 
de  l'lnstitut. 

Monsieur  le  Docteur  Valude — Medecin  Chef  de  l'Hopital  des  Quinze-Vingts. 

Monsieur  Joseph  Reinach. 

Monsieur  Emile  Berr. 

Mr.  Leslie  Cauldwell. 

x 


EDITOR'S   XOTES. 

The  American  work  of  bringing  light  to  men  blinded  in  battle  was  inaugu- 
rated in  March,  1915,  when  Miss  Winifred  Holt  arrived  in  Bordeaux,  at  the 
request  of  a  committee  organized  in  this  country,  to  give  the  War  Blind  in 
France  the  skill  and  knowledge  she  had  attained  by  her  life-work  in  America. 

Miss  Holt  founded  in  New  York  the  "Lighthouse,"  that  meant  a  new  epoch 
for  those  who  sit  in  darkness.  She  and  her  friends  who  stand  back  of  her 
believe  that  the  future  happiness  of  those  who  have  lost  their  vision  is  not  in 
separating  them  from  their  families  and  their  homes  and  their  ambition,  but 
rather  in  putting  eyes  in  their  finger-tips,  giving  them  a  new  means  of  self- 
support,  if  the  old  manner  of  earning  a  livelihood  does  not  lend  itself  to  their 
present  conditions,  and  starting  them  again  on  the  paths  of  contentment  in  their 
former  environment. 

With  the  great  experience  that  was  hers  in  the  accomplishment  of  her 
work,  Miss  Holt  began  in  France  the  re-education  of  men  who  suddenly,  in 
the  midst  of  youth  and  strength  and  filled  with  enthusiasm  for  the  cause  of  civ- 
ilization, found  themselves  overtaken  by  perpetual  darkness. 

How  far  the  work  that  has  been  undertaken  is  now  going  on  and  what  has 
been  accomplished  is  shown  to  some  extent  in  this  report.  The  real  record  of 
despair  swallowed  up  in  hope  or  of  the  renewal  of  ambitions  and  the  taking 
up  again  of  the  threads  of  happiness  can,  however,  only  be  hinted  at. 

New  Lighthouses  (or  Phares)  at  Sevres  and  Bordeaux,  now  make 
three  Lighthouses  in  France,  in  addition  to  the  original  two  in  America. 

The  brief  accounts  of  the  work  of  the  Committee  for  Men  Blinded  in  Battle 
and  of  the  Comite  Franco-Americain  pour  les  Aveugles  de  la  Guerre,  of  Christ- 
mas and  New  Year's  at  Le  Phare,  and  of  the  lately  founded  Phare  de  Sevres, 
have  been  received  from  Miss  Winifred  Holt,  who  is  at  present  in  Paris,  which 
is  being  bombarded  at  long  range.  In  these  papers  she  is  referred  to  either 
as  the  "Gardienne"  or  the  Presidente  of  the  Comite.  The  Editor  has  had  to  sup- 
ply most  of  the  paragraph  headings. 

Miss  Holt  is  not  responsible  for  the  choice  of  illustrations  or  for  the  ar- 
rangement of  this  Report,  which  had  to  be  left  to  others,  during  her  absence 
in  France. 

The  fearful  destruction  in  the  present  mad  German  drives  has  caused  the 
loss  of  sight  to  many  heroes,  and  money  is  imperatively  and  instantly  needed 
for  their  relief. 


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Lighthouse  No.  1     Lighthouse  Xo.  2     Lighthouse  No.  4     Lighthouse  Xo.  5 
new  york  buffalo  sevres  bordeaux 

THE   CHOATE   WAR    MEMORIAL 
(Lighthouse  Xo.  3) 

PARIS 


WEDDING  OF  ONE  OF  THE  PUPILS  OF  THE  PHARE  DE  FRANCE 

Formerly   mentally   unbalanced   and   blind,   this   man   is    today   entirely   self-supporting   and 

happy.      He   has    recovered    partial    sight,    and    entire    mental   poise.      The 

Guardienne  stands  immediately  back  of  him  to  his  left. 

WORK  IN  BRIEF  OF 
THE  COMMITTEE  FOR  MEX  BLIXDED  IN  BATTLE 

AXD 

LE   COMITE   FRANCO-AMERICAIN    POUR   LES   AVEUGLES    DE   LA 

GUERRE 


HISTORY     OF     THE     PHARE     DE     FRANCE — - 
LIGHTHOUSE    XO.   3. 

Lighthouse  Xo.  1.  for  the  Blind,  was 
established  in  New  York  several  years 
ago,  and  its  cornerstone  was  laid  by  the 
President  of  the  United  States,  and  the 
building  opened  by  him. 

Lighthouse  Xo.  2  was  next  founded  in 
Buffalo. 


Lighthouse  Xo.  3,  "Le  Phare  de 
France,"  opened  its  doors  to  pupils,  at 
14  rue  Darn,  in  March,  1916.  It  was 
officially  opened  by  the  President  of  the 
French  Republic  and  the  American  Am- 
bassador, in  August  of  that  year,  and 
founded  by  the  Committee  for  Men 
Blinded  in  Battle,  the  pioneer  American 
organization  working  for  the  blind,  un- 
der  the   patronage   of   the    President   of 


A  Report  to  the  Committee   for  Men  Blinded  in  Battle 


the  French  Republic,  and  of  the  Presi- 
dent of  the  United  States.  It  had  for  its 
President,  until  his  death,  the  late  Hon- 
orable Joseph  H.  Choate. 

Lighthouse  No.  4. 

blind  potters  at  sevres. 

The  modelling  class  has  produced  ex- 
cellent results.  Exquisite,  artistic  pot- 
tery is  turned  out.  Eight  pupils  have 
now  left  the  Phare,  and  are  employed  in 
the  Government  Potteries  at  Sevres. 
There  they  receive  the  same  salaries  as 
the  seeing  men,  and  are  said  to  do  quite 
as  good  work,  which,  it  is  estimated,  they 
do  in  one-third  less  time.  These  work- 
men live  at  the  Phare  de  Sevres.  That 
house,  which  is  Lighthouse  No.  4,  accom- 
modates 20  men,  but  an  adjoining  large 
Chateau  with  beautiful  grounds  has  also 
been  placed  at  the  Committee's  disposal 
there.  The  French  Government  has 
apportioned  land  to  the  Committee  in  the 
grounds  of  the  Sevres  Potteries,  on 
which  it  is  about  to  build  a  Training 
School  for  blind  potters  who  will  gradu- 
ate from  there  to  other  factories. 

Lighthouse  No.  5. 

LE   PHARE  DE   BORDEAUX. 

In  June,  1915,  Miss  Winifred  Holt 
landed  in  Bordeaux,  as  Delegate  of  the 
Committee  for  Men  Blinded  in  Battle. 
There  she  began  the  work  of  relief  and 
instruction  for  blind  soldiers  still  in  the 
hospitals.  The  devoted  Abbe  Moureau 
had  years  before  founded  in  Bordeaux 
an  organization  for  the  civilian  blind, 
called  "Les  Travailleurs  de  Sud-Ouest." 
He  and  his  organization  were  persuaded 
to  reconstruct  their  work,  to  name  it  ''Le 
Phare  de  Bordeaux"  and  to  assume  the 
re-education  of  the  war  blind. 

The  President  of  the  Committee  for 
Men  Blinded  in  Battle  and  Miss  Wini- 
fred Holt,  its  Vice-President,  became 
members  of  this  new  Bordeaux  Commit- 
tee, which  purchased  the  beautiful 
grounds  and  buildings  of  the  Chateau 
de  Lescure.  There  are  now  more  than 
fifty    blind    pupils    there,    and    excellent 


work  for  the  simpler  soldiers  has  been 
accomplished  in  teaching  brushmaking. 
chair-caning,  basketry,  willow-work,  etc., 
as  well  as  Braille  reading  and  writing, 
typewriting,  music,  games,  etc.  The 
teaching  and  relief  of  the  blind  in  the 
hospitals,  carried  on  by  the  Committee  of 
Bordeaux,  is  of  the  utmost  importance. 
Le  Phare  de  Bordeaux  is  Lighthouse 
No.  5,  and  "Filiale"  of  the  Phare  de 
France. 

BEGINNING  OF  THE  WORK  IN  PARIS. 

In  July,  1915,  the  French  branch  of 
the  Committee  for  Men  Blinded  in  Bat- 
tle, "Le  Comite  Franco-Americain  pour 
les  Aveugles  de  la  Guerre,"  was  founded 
in  Paris.  The  management  of  the  Hotel 
de  Crillon  in  Paris  enabled  it  to  begin 
work  immediately,  by  placing  the  neces- 
sary rooms,  free  of  cost,  at  the  Comite's 
disposal.  Classes  for  the  re-education 
of  the  war-blinded  were  established  there. 

HELPING    IN    THE    HOSPITALS. 

Visits  of  help  and  instruction  were 
made  to  the  blinded  soldiers  in  the  hos- 
pitals and  in  their  own  homes.  Permis- 
sion was  given  by  the  Government  to 
the  Committee's  representatives  to  visit 
such  soldiers,  not  only  in  the  hospitals 
in  the  Paris  region,  but  also  in  Toulon, 
on  the  He  de  St.  Mandre,  in  Lyons,  Mar- 
seilles, etc.,  etc.  Much  relief  work  was 
thus  made  possible.  More  than  three 
thousand  men  suffering  from  head 
wounds — some  not  permanently  blinded 
— were  variously  aided  in  less  than  two 
years  of  the  Committee's  work. 

WE   GIVE  AN    X-RAY   OUTFIT. 

An  X-ray  outfit  and  installation  was 
presented  by  the  Committee  to  the 
Hopital  des  Quinze-Vingts,  thus  making 
it  possible  to  locate  immediately  foreign 
bodies  which  menaced  the  sight  of  the 
wounded  gathered  there. 

MRS.    HEWITT   COMES. 

In  December,  1915,  Mrs.  Peter  Cooper 
Hewitt,  Vice-President  of  the  Comite 
Franco-Americain  pour  les  Aveugles  de 


A  Report  to  the  Committee   for  Men   Blinded  in   Battle 


A  BLIND  SOLDIER  BASKET  MAKING 
(A  pupil  of  the  Phare  de  France  in  Paris) 


4 


A  Report  to  the  Committee   for  Men  Blinded  in  Battle 


la  Guerre,  came  to  Paris.  There  she  as- 
sisted in  establishing  Lighthouse  Xo.  3, 
known  as  Le  Phare  de  France,  at  14  rue 
Daru. 

STUDIES,   GAMES  AXD  SPORTS. 

The  Phare  teaches  whatever  will  best 
help  its  blind  pupils  to  become  useful, 
happy  citizens  again  in  the  seeing  world. 
They  may  study  anything  from  higher 
mathematics  to  the  most  practical  and 
lucrative  trades  open  to  them.  Thus,  the 
curriculum  of  general  re-education  for 
all  includes  Braille  (reading  and  writing) 
and  typewriting.  In  addition,  the  fol- 
lowing subjects  have  also  been  taught: 
Basketwork,  weaving,  knitting  by 
machine,  massage,  modelling,  pottery, 
stenography  (by  a  system  specially  in- 
vented by  Miss  Frances  Evans  for  the 
pupils  of  the  Phare),  book-keeping,  com- 
mercial studies  (including  training  for 
commercial  travellers),  English,  French. 
Spanish,  or  other  languages,  music,  sing- 
ing, gymnastics,  fencing,  riding,  skating, 
etc.  Some  of  the  more  intellectual  pupils 
attend  lectures  and  study  at  the  Univer- 
sities, the  Conservatories,  etc.  In  addi- 
tion to  gymnastics  and  outdoor  games, 
recreation  is  offered  by  concerts  given 
at  the  Phare,  outings,  and  visits  to  the 
musicales,  concerts,  theatres  and  operas. 

The  Phare  regularly  teaches  the  blind 
in  the  Government's  Hospital,  the 
Quinze-Vingts,  as  well  as  elsewhere, 
when  its  services  are  needed. 

At  Christmas  time  the  blind  men  usu- 
ally get  up  some  festivity.  This  year, 
besides  erecting  their  own  stage  and 
decorating  it  and  the  auditorium,  they 
had  their  programmes  printed  in  Braille, 
and  gave  an  excellent  concert,  exclusive- 
ly by  blind  artists ;  a  dialogue  between 
two  blind  soldiers  gave  much  satisfaction 
to  the  audience,  and  the  performance 
ended  with  the  spirited  rendering  of  "Les 
deux  Aveugles,"  an  operetta  by  Offen- 
bach. 

THE  PRINTING  PRESS,  BOOKS,  ETC. 

The    Phare    de    France   has   a    Braille 
Library    and    a    Braille    Printing    Plant. 


The  first  number  of  the  Braille  magazine, 
"La  Lumiere,"  partially  edited  by  the 
blind  soldiers  themselves,  and  sent  out 
to  their  comrades  in  arms  and  in  blind- 
ness, was  issued  in  December,  1916.  At 
first  published  once  a  month,  it  now  ap- 
pears every  fortnight,  and  over  two  hun- 
dred copies  of  each  issue  are  being  print- 
ed. The  press  of  the  Phare  has  also 
printed  many  books  which  appear  now 
for  the  first  time  in  Braille — for  exam- 
ple, at  the  special  request  of  the  men,  a 
handbook  on  massage,  and  a  French  and 
English  Grammar  have  been  printed. 
The  press  has  been  in  operation  a  little 
over  a  year,  and  already  over  2,000  vol- 
umes have  been  issued.  Interesting  books 
of  adventure,  novels,  biography,  history 
and  manuals  of  instruction  have  been 
turned  out  by  it.  Its  publications 
range  from  Rudyard  Kipling's  "Jungle 
Book"  to  a  manual  of  anatomy.  Our 
press  also  prints  programmes,  notices, 
etc. 

As  the  press  is  run  by  electricity,  metal 
plates  can  be  used,  which  permit,  for 
the  first  time  in  France,  the  publication 
of  volumes  in  large  editions  in  the  clear- 
est point  type.  Heretofore,  such  work 
has  been  done  in  France  by  hand  presses, 
the  type  being  movable  or  the  Braille 
being  prinked  out  with  a  little  instrument 
for  that  purpose. 

Four  blind  men  work  in  the  Printing 
Department  of  the  Phare. 

WE  ALSO  PRIXT  MUSIC. 

The  printing  of  music  was  first  be- 
gun at  the  Phare,  by  issuing,  at  the  re- 
quest of  the  soldiers  there,  a  Braille  copy 
of  the  anthem  "America,''  together  with 
the  words,  translated  into  French  by  the 
Lighthouse  Crew.  The  next  order  was 
the  printing  of  Gregorian  chants,  at  the 
request  of  the  "Passengers,"  as  the  men 
call  themselves  at  the  Phare  de  Bordeaux 
Lighthouse.  While  much  music  already 
exists  in  Braille,  the  efforts  of  the  Phare 
will  be  to  print  war  songs  and  up-to-date 
music,  for  which  the  soldiers  clamor,  as 
well  as  some  classic  compositions,  not  al- 
ready obtainable  in  type  for  the  blind. 


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A  Report  to  the  Committee    for  A  [en  Blinded  in  Battle 


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A  Report  to  the  Committee   for  Men  Blinded  in  Battle 


SOME   OF   OUR    GRADUATES. 

One  of  the  most  gratifying  results  of 
the  re-educational  work  is  that  all  who 
have  left  the  Phare  after  a  year  or  more 
of  instruction,  have  been  able,  if  they 
have  so  wished,  to  find  lucrative  employ- 
ment. 

Some  who  were  completely  discour- 
aged when  they  first  arrived,  have  been 
led  to  find  a  contented,  useful  future. 


teaching  a  class  of  twenty  seeing  men  in 
a  technical  institution. 

The  first  pupil  of  the  Phare,  on  leav- 
ing, was  employed  as  a  stenographer- 
typist  and  telephonist  in  the  firm  of  his 
former  Lieutenant.  Still  others  have 
found  places  as  secretaries,  stenogra- 
phers, telephonists,  etc. 

The  simpler  men  have  done  equally 
well  in  their  own  departments.    One  has 


MAKING  THE  PLATES  FOR  THE  BRAILLE  MAGAZINE 

FOR  THE  BLIND 

To  be  used  on  its  Printing  Press. 


The  more  highly  educated  have  been 
able  to  rebuild  a  life  similar  to  that 
which  they  led  before  their  blindness. 

A  Commandant  has  become  a  Director 
of  Studies  of  the  Military  College. 

A  former  teacher  again  took  up  his 
classes  in  a  school. 

A  student  has  taken  his  Degree  in 
Philosophy. 

Another  pupil  is  an  Inspector  for  the 
French  Board  of  Education.  One  was 
employed  as  typist  at  the  American  Em- 
bassy. 

Another  pupil  has  become  a  Professor 
in  a  Government  School. 

A    one-armed   "blind    man    has    been 


taken  over  his  father's  leather  business, 
which  he  is  now  directing.  Another  is 
employed  in  a  publishing  house  in  Paris. 
He  receives  orders,  typewrites,  and  does 
general  office  work. 

MACHINE    KNITTERS. 

Le  Phare  de  France  first  introduced 
machine-knitting  for  the  blind  into 
France.  This  is  a  highly  desirable  trade. 
Many  graduate  knitters  are  now  making 
good  incomes  in  their  own  homes,  with 
the  machines  which  the  Phare  has  given 
them,  for,  on  leaving,  each  graduate  is 
given  as  a  gift  to  take  away  with  him  the 
machine  on  which  he  has  learned,  for  he 


A  Report  to  the  Committee   for  Men  Blinded  in  Battle  7 


would  find  it  impossible  to  purchase  it 
for  himself.  The  work  of  some  of  those 
knitters  has  grown  to  such  an  extent 
that  they  have  been  forced  to  employ  as- 
sistants in  order  to  fill  their  orders.  One, 
tho'  he  had  lost  his  arm  as  well  as  his 
sight,  has  been  able  by  his  trade  to  sup- 
port his  family  comfortably-  Several 
one-armed  blind  men  are  now  learning 


adapt  the  work  to  the  physical  and  men- 
tal condition  of  the  blinded  men,  often 
still  suffering  from  other  serious  wounds 
or  mutilations,  some  of  which  at  times 
even  gravely  impair  their  mentality.  The 
character,  tastes  and  ambitions  of  each 
pupil  are  considered.  Some  men  can 
study  or  work  all  day ;  others  require 
sunshine  and  rest,  or  perhaps  even  dis- 


BLIND  SOLDIERS  WEAVING  AT  THE  PHARE  DE  FRANCE 
In  the  modernized  stable — now  the  handicraft  shop  of  the  Phare. 


at  the  Phare.  in  hopes  of  following  this 
heroic  example. 


MASSEURS. 

The  pupils  in  massage  have  done  ex- 
tremely well.  Several  men  have  been 
working  in  the  Cotes  du  Nord,  and  one 
is  now  masseur  in  a  large  Paris  hos- 
pital. 

FITTING   THE  TASK   TO   THE   PUPIL. 

The  teaching  of  the  Phare  is  not  "cut 
and  dried"  or  limited  in  an  inflexible  pro- 
gramme.    The  utmost  care  is  taken  to 


traction  and  entertainment,  before  they 
are  able  to  take  up  more  serious  prob- 
lems. 

RE-EDUCATION    MUST    BE    THOROUGH. 

No  matter  what  station  the  pupil 
comes  from,  whether  he  wishes  to  be- 
come an  artisan,  or  a  professor,  or  an 
artist,  a  thorough  re-education  is  of  in- 
estimable benefit  to  him,  not  only  because 
it  enables  him  to  take  up  reading,  writing, 
typewriting,  to  play  games,  etc.,  but  it 
also  aids  him  to  adapt  his  mind  and  body 
so  as  to  conquer  his  handicap. 


8 


A  Report  to  the  Committee  for  Men  Blinded  in  Battle 


BLIND    MEN    WHO    EACH    MASTER    SEVERAL 
OCCUPATIONS. 

Many  of  the  men  are  eager  to  take  up 
more  than  one  special  study,  trade  or 
occupation.  For  example,  one  of  the 
best  stenographers  went  to  England  to 
perfect  his  English,  which  he  had  learnt 
at  the  Phare ;  another,  though  an  expert 


them,  and  has  made  their  return  to  their 
country  life  interesting  and  profitable. 

BLIND  INVENTORS. 

Not  a  few  of  the  soldiers  have  been 
encouraged  to  use  their  inventive  genius, 
and  several  have  even  suggested  help- 
ful modifications  and  developments  of 
the  tools  and  machines  which  they  use. 


BLIND  CHECKER  PLAYERS. 

La  Guardienne  teaching  her  first  pupil  how  to  play  checkers  on  an  Amer- 
ican checker  board  adapted  for  the  blind- 


weaver,  is  employed  in  the  printing  es- 
tablishment at  the  Phare  as  proofreader. 
Proofreading  interests  him  more,  but 
since  he  is  also  an  industrious  weaver,  he 
finds  distraction  and  mental  rest  in  this 
simpler  work. 

POULTRYMEN   AND  FARMING. 

Some  of  the  pupils  at  the  Phare  have 
been  sent  to  the  poultry- farming  school 
at  Cambaix,  where  they  have  learned 
market-gardening  and  chicken-raising. 
This    has    been    a    great    advantage    for 


One.  who  had  lost  not  only  his  eyes  but 
his  right  arm,  too,  adapted  the  typewriter 
so  that  it  could  be  very  easily  used  by 
others  similarly  affected.  The  Under- 
wrood  Company  has  already  sold  type- 
writers with  this  improvement.  This 
man,  also,  by  a  simple  invention,  enabled 
himself  and  other  one-armed  workers  to 
weave. 

INSPECTOR   AND    AUTHOR,   TOO. 

Some  of  the  day  pupils  have  also  won 
laurels.     One  is  now  Inspecteur  d'Aca- 


A  Report  to  the  Committee   for  Men  Blinded  in  Battle 


BLIND  SOLDIERS  WITH  THEIR  "MASCOTTE"— 
The  Military  Hen  called  "Jacqueline."    To  the  left  a  small  Boy  Scout. 


io         A  Report  to  the  Committee   for  Men  Blinded  in  Battle 


demie  and  Inspecteur  au  Ministere  de 
l'lnstruction  Publique.  He  has  written 
several  very  interesting  articles  for  our 
magazine  in  blind  type  "La  Lumiere." 

THE    MOST   SORELY   AFFLICTED. 

At    present    there    are    working — they 
have  been  helped  by  the  Phare — twelve 


Having  invented  a  string  appliance  as  substitute 
for  a  missing  arm,  this  blind  soldier  is  able  to 
hold    the    apparatus    with    his    foot,    and    weave. 


blind  one-armed  men.  Two,  who  have 
left,  after  being  taught  there,  had  lost 
their  eyes  and  a  leg.  Five  blind  people 
who  have  lost  both  of  their  arms  or 
hands  have  been  assisted  by  the  Light- 
house, and  others  as  seriously,  or  more 
seriously  mutilated,  have  "been  aided  in 
the  hospitals  by  the  Phare. 


FEW  BEYOND  HELP. 

It  is  impossible  to  tabulate  briefly  the 
pioneer  work  of  the  French  Lighthouses. 
They  have  to  do  with  sorely  tried  men, 
who,  besides  their  blindness,  have  often 
been  badly  mutilated.  Fortunately  these 
great  afflictions  can  usually  be  lessened 
by  medical  and  scientific  inventions,  by 
the  strengthening  of  the  will,  body,  tech- 
nique, intelligence  and  spirit.  This  is 
what  the  Phare  tries  to  do,  and  it  will 
not  feel  that  it  has  fulfilled  its  mission 
until  every  blind  soldier  to  whom  we 
are  indebted  for  the  sacrifice  of  his  sight 
in  this  huge  fight  for  the  right,  has  found 
the  Light,  through  Work. 

SUMMARY. 
WHAT   WE    HAVE   DONE 

AT  THE  PHARE  DE  FRANCE. 

Through  its  "Filiale"  and  "Annexe," 
the  Phare  de  France  now  daily  assists 
about  150  men — some  of  these  are  in  the 
hospitals.  130  blinded  soldiers  have 
received  re-education  at  the  Phare  de 
France  in  Paris.  This  does  not 
include,  of  course,  the  blind  men  taught 
in  the  hospitals,  or  at  the  Phare  de 
Sevres,  or  at  the  Phare  de  Bordeaux. 

Together,  the  three  French  Light- 
houses have  come  in  touch  with  about 
3,500  blind  or  partially  blind,  whom  they 
have  assisted  directly  or  indirectly. 

During  the  working  terms  about  2,800 
tlessons  are  given  each  month  at  the 
Phare  de  France. 

During  the  year  1917  about  2,000 
woolen  wraps  were  made  by  the  blind 
knitters  there,  and  sold  for  their  benefit. 
About  600  more  pieces  of  weaving  were 
turned  out  by  the  other  blind  who  had 
gone  out  from  the  Phare. 

THE   PHARE  DE   BORDEAUX. 

The  output  of  the  Phare  de  Bordeaux 
in  brushes,  baskets,  chair-caning,  etc., 
has  been  far  greater,  as  the  men  do  more 
handicrafts  there  and  less  intellectual 
work. 


A  Report  to  the  Committee    for  Men   Blinded  in   Battle  n 


THE   PHARE   DE   SEVRES. 

It  is  too  early,  as  we  go  to  press,  to 
estimate  the  output  of  the  Phare  de 
Sevres,  as  that  Lighthouse  has  so  very 
recently  been  opened. 

A   FEW    OF   THE   THINGS    WE    HAVE    GIVEN. 

About  10,000  gifts  have  been  given 
away  by  the  Phares  to  the  blind  of  the 
Allies.     Among  these  have  been :   food. 


guitars,  dictaphones,  phonographs,  hire 
for  guides,  railroad  fares,  automobile 
hire,  pen-knives,  walking  sticks,  model- 
ling clay,  etc. — baptismal  expenses,  wed- 
ding expenses,  funeral  expenses. 

CASH    RELIEF. 

$2,000.00  was  contributed  by  the 
Phare  to  rebuild  the  homes  of  the  blind 
from  the  invaded  regions.   Several  farms. 


A  ZOUAVE,  BEFORE  THE  WAR. 


THE  SAME  ZOUAVE. 


No  eyes,  no  legs,  and  only  one  arm;  but  full  of  courage,  and  hopefully 

learning  how  to  be  blind. 

Helped  in  a  hospital  by  the  Committee. 


coal,  wood,  blankets,  bedding,  furniture, 
crockery,  etc.,  for  furnishing  blind 
homes ;  medicine,  bandages,  clothes,  uni- 
forms, flowers,  chocolates,  tobacco- 
pouches,  tobacco,  cigars,  cigarettes,  rent, 
land,  houses. 

Also  tools,  writing  appliances  and 
paper,  Hall  Braille  Writers,  typewriters, 
knitting  machines,  wool,  silk,  looms,  arti- 
ficial limbs,  stumps,  crutches,  glass  eyes, 
etc. 

Cards,  games,  chickens,  ducks,  rabbit^, 
dogs,  garden  seed  and  vegetables,  pianos, 
violins,  harmoniums,  harmonicas,  banjos. 


worth    about    5,000    francs    each,    were 
given  by  the  Committee  to  its  graduates. 

WORK   THAT   LASTS. 

This  pioneer  work  is  permanent  in  the 
best  sense,  as  besides  immediate  relief, 
the  blind  are  given  teaching  and  tools 
which  enable  them  to  find  again  in  their 
own  homes  work  and  life. 

HELP  NEEDED  AND  AT  ONCE. 

The  fearful  repeated  drives  by  the 
Germans  on  the  West  front  have  ren- 
dered   our   needs    enormous,    immediate. 


12  A  Report  to  the  Committee   for  Men  Blinded  in  Battle 


acute,  and  daily  increasing,  as  blinded  sol- 
diers are  returning:.  Although  we  stretch 
our  resources  to  their  utmost  capac- 
ity, we  are  now  in  great  and  instant 
need  of  further  financial  help,  if  we  are 
to  continue  and  develop  our  work,  for 
the  re-education  of  those  who  have  given 
their  sight  in  the  Cause  of  Liberty,  and 
who  trust  to  us  to  lead  them  to  find 
"Light  through  Work." 

Winifred  Holt. 
Paris,  April  4th.  1918. 


Cheques  payable  to  either  the  Com- 
mittee for  Men  Blinded  in  Battle 
(which  will  also  take  care  of  Ameri- 
can Blind),  Mr.  W.  Forbes  Morgan, 
Treasurer,  111  East  59th  St.,  New 
York,  or  to  Le  Comite  Franco-Ameri- 
cain  Pour  Les  Aveugles  de  la  Guerre, 
Monsieur  Ernest  Mallet  (Regent  of 
the  Bank  of  France),  Treasurer,  Le 
Phare  de  France,  14  Rue  Daru,  Paris. 


PARIS 


SEVRES 


BORDEAUX 


FIVE  BEACONS  FOR  THE  BLIND. 

There  are  now  five  Lighthouses  working  together  for  the  blind,  tho  when 
.last  year's  Report  appeared  there  were  but  three.  There  are  many  other  inde- 
pendent organizations  which  owe  their  origin  and  work  for  the  blind  to  these. 
The  mother  light  of  the  New  York  Association  for  the  Blind  is  Lighthouse 
No.  1.  with  a  single  ray  in  its  seal  in  New  York.  Lighthouse  No.  2.  with  two 
rays,  is  run  by  the  Buffalo  Association  for  the  Blind,  in  Buffalo.  Lighthouse 
No.  3  (Le  Phare  de  France)  is  run  by  the  French  wing  of  the  Committee  for 
Men  Blinded  in  Battle,  in  Paris.  Its  seal  has  three  rays,  symbolizing  Liberte, 
Fraternite,  Egalite.  At  Sevres  is  the  fourth,  and  at  Bordeaux  the  fifth  Light- 
house, both  also  started  by  our  French  wing.  Now  that  once  again  America 
and  France  are  fighting  side  by  side,  it  is  fitting  that  The  Five  Lighthouses 
should  be  working  together  in  this  world   war  against  a  conscienceless  tyranny. 


NEW  YORK 


•  BUFFALO  • 
ASSOCIATION 
FOR  THE    BLIND 


BUFFALO 


A  Report  to  the  Committee  for  Men  Blinded  in    Battle  13 


3 


IN  ACKNOWLEDGMENT. 

The  Committee  wishes  especially  to  acknowledge  its  deep  obligation  to  the 
President  of  the  French  Republic,  the  American  Ambassador,  and  to  the  Minis- 
ters who  have  aided  and  facilitated  its  task.  It  wishes  also  to  express  its  high 
appreciation  of  the  many  courtesies  shown  to  it  by  the  French  Government  and 
its  officials. 

Where  so  many  have  helped  with  generous  enthusiasm,  it  is  impossible  to 
thank  each  individually.     We,  therefore,  beg  to  record  our  profound  obligation 

to  all  those  who  have  aided  us  with  sympathy  and  assistance  in  any  form,  and 
who  have  made  our  work  possible.  This  includes  the  many  ladies  who  have 
prepared  themselves  by  special  study,  both  in  America  and  in  France,  and 
have  become  our  efficient  aids,  and  who  have  loyally  worked  for  our  Lighthouse 
activities,  and    the  gentlemen  who  have  donated  their  services  so  efficiently. 

The  Committee  wishes  again  to  thank  Mademoiselle  de  Yilledon  de  Cour- 
zon  for  her  brave,  self-sacrificing  and  able  direction  of  the  Lighthouse  and  its 
staff,  and  to  her  many  aides  for  their  tireless  devotion. 

The  Committee  further  wishes  to  make  known  its  deep  appreciation  to 
those  who  have  contributed  to  its  fund,  to  those  who  have  sent  many  valuable 
articles  for  the  work  of  making  heroic  men  who  have  suffered  the  most  griev- 
ous of  physical  afflictions,  useful  to  themselves  and  to  their  people  and  society 
generally. 


M*    ft  *                                                                                 /***-* 

9                                                           ■  ■                * 

w 

-                          1 

* 

A  ONE-ARMED  BLIND  PUPIL  RIDING  IN  THE  BOIS 

Having  read  the  life  of  the  blind  Postmaster  of  England,  he  saw  no  reason  why  his  one 

arm  should  prevent  his  following  his  example. 

THE   OPENING  OF  THE   PHARE   DE   SEVRES 

At  the  Ancient  Chateau  of  the  Marquise  de  Pompadour. 


On  the  afternoon  of  January  13th, 
1918,  two  autos  with  our  volunteer  aids, 
Mrs.  Alison,  Mrs.  Dunlop  and  I  in  one, 
Mr.  Caux  and  two  blind  men  in  the  other, 
together  with  hand  luggage,  including 
two  violins,  uniforms  and  all  sorts  of 
things,  repaired  from  the  Phare  de 
France  to  the  Phare  de  Sevres.  We  were 
received  there  by  Madame  Lunel,  the 
Directress.  We  introduced  the  men  to 
their  bright  dormitory,  where  they  joy- 
fully examined  the  little  tables,  comfort- 
able mattresses  and  warm  bits  of  car- 
pet. 

FROM   ONE  DARKNESS  TO  ANOTHER. 

When  the  hot  tea  and  the  well-buttered 
"tartine"  of  brown  war  bread  had  made 
the  blind  men  feel  at  home  and  loosened 
their  tongues,  they  became  reminiscent. 

C said,  "How  fresh  and  good  the 

air  is !    I  feel  the  country  and  I  love  it. 


I  have  spent  my  life  in  the  mines."  Poor 
soul !  As  I  looked  at  this  lad  of  twenty- 
two,  strong  and  handsome,  the  irony  of 
fate  touched  me.  Why  had  this  full- 
blooded,  country  loving  boy  been  made  to 
leave  his  pick,  in  the  black  mine  in  the 
bowels  of  the  earth,  to  fight  for  a  few 
months  for  the  land  which  he  loved,  and 
then  be  banished  from  it  again  to  dark- 


ness. 


THE  BLIND   TAKE   A   LOOK   AROUND. 


T 


-,  shorter  and  broader,  with  the 


build  of  a  toreador,  spoke  of  his  former 
life  in  the  fields  which  he  loved. 

The  men  raised  their  bowls,  and  drank 
to  Mrs.  Alison,  to  the  Directress  and  to 
me,  and  then  to  the  Committee  across  the 
sea  who  had  made  this  new  home  possi- 
ble. 

With  their  ten  eyes  the  soldiers  looked 
at  the  furniture,  and  at  the  long  windows 


A  Report  to  the  Committee   for  Men  Blinded  in  Battle  i 


D 


as  good. 

GREETINGS — AND  CLAY. 


which   overlooked   the   neighboring  gar-  "La  Patrie."    The  process  is  simple ;  the 

den.     One  blind  man  said  to  the  other,  clay   is    pressed    into    huge   moulds,    re- 

"Look    at    the    cabbages    and    the    salad  moved,    the    sections    put    together    and 

growing  under  glass  and  look  at  the  river  smoothed  off.    It  is  possible  for  the  blind 

which  winds  beneath  the  hills."  men  to  make  one-third  more  output  than 

the  seeing  men.  and  their  work  is  quite 

FAMILY  PHOTOGRAPHS. 

At  last  the  men  sat  down.     Each  one 
took  from  his  pocket  a  photograph  of  his 

family.     "I  am  not  married,"  said  C We  followed  the  voices  into  the  work- 

who    came    from    the    invaded    region,  room.  ^  Before   I   spoke,  the  men  chor- 

"but    this   is   my   sister   and   this    is   my  used:   "Ah,  voila  madame  la  Gardienne !" 

brother-in-law,"    and    he    pointed    with  They  all  wore  clay  coloured  aprons  such 

his  poor,  toil-worn  finger  to  the  photo-  as  are  worn  by  workmen,  and  one  after 

graph.     Then  T ,  who  is  also  from  another  held  out  a  clayey  hand  for  me 

the  north,  showed  a  picture  of  his  familv,  to  shake-     "Wicked  ones!"  I  retaliated, 

holding  the  photograph  of  his  wife  and  <<as  lf  y°u  dld  not  know  that  I  had  put 

child    lovingly    upside    down.      He    told  on  a  new  pair  of  war  gloves  to  call  on  the 

about  his  youngest  child,  his  fine  bov  of  Director!"   So  we  compromised  by  shak- 

16,  and  his  older  daughter  who  helps  his  mS    elbows.      The    little    superintendent 

brave  wife.     Still  holding  his  family  on  whom  we  employ  to  look  after  the  men, 

its  head,  he  tenderly  stowed  it  away  in  appeared  from  the  shadow  of  the  great 

his  inside  pocket.  retorts. 

The  Director  of  Finances  (a  veritable 

to  the  potteries.  giant)  now  appeared  and  introduced  him- 

As  the  sun  was  setting  and  the  gray  self.     He  apologized  because  the  electric 

mists   were    rising    from   the    Seine,    we  lights  could  not  be  used.     A  charming 

three  Americans,  accompanied  by  the  old  spirit  of  co-operation  was  manifested  by 

Secretary,   his    whiskers   and   nose   con-  everyone,  and  a  seeing  factory  hand  was 

cealed  by  a  heavy  muffler,  went  to  the  deputed  to  show  us  home, 

factory    to    fetch    the    other    "pension-  ,«                  . 

naires"  to  the  Phare  de  Sevres.     At  the  H0W  big!   how  beautiful.' 

great  gates,  the  concierge  challenged  us.  Hands  washed,  aprons  doffed,  be-uni- 

and  said  that  it  was  not  usual  for  women  formed,  our  blind  men  sallied  forth  with 

to  be  admitted.     I  told  her  that   I  was  us  to   their   new   Lighthouse.      As   their 

the  "Gardienne"  du  Phare  and  she  polite-  quick   feet  clanged  on  the  rough  cobble 

ly  let  us  in.  pavement,   they  talked   merrily   of   their 

work  and  of  their  interesting  life.     Each 

a  retort  quarrelsome.  man  ^    an    American    cigarette,    and    I 

AYalking  down  the  paved  road  of  the  promised  that  there  should  be  a  supply 

factory   grounds,    we    passed    two    huge  at   the   Lighthouse.     Finally,   we   swung 

chimneys,    looming    like    great    obelisks  into  the  gates  of  the  Phare  de   Sevres, 

against  the  sunset,  and  then  we  entered  The   giant  police  dog  of   the   Concierge 

the  little  studio.    There  all  was  dark,  but  rushed  out,  gleefully  wagging  his  tail  and 

in  the  neighbouring  room,  we  heard  the  barking  an  almost  human  welcome  to  the 

gay  voices  of  our  pupils.     To  our  left,  soldiers.      I   walked   with  two   of   them, 

reaching     far     above     my     head,     stood  "How  good  the  air  is !   There  is  so  much 

moulds  and  a  huge  clay  retort  which  had  space  !"  said  one.   I  described  the  grounds 

just  been  finished  by   one   of   the  blind  and  the  shrubbery,  and  drew  their  atten- 

men.     They  make   these   necessary  war  tion  to  the  great  walnut  trees  bordering 

things  for  the  ammunition  factories,  and  the  path.     The  blind  soldiers  stopped  to 

are  proud  to  be  able  to  again  work  for  look  at  them ;  one  spread  his  arms  out, 


1 6         A  Report  to  the  Committee   for  Men  Blinded  in  Battle 


encircling  the  trunk  of  the  tree,  as  he  ex- 
claimed with  admiration  "How  big  it  is, 
how  beautiful!" 

THE    CONVERTED    CHATEAU. 

We  passed  by  the  lovely  Chateau  of 
the  Pompadour.  It  slept  in  the  gray 
twilight,  its  shut  blinds  like  closed  eye- 
lids.   The  spirit  of  the  war  had  banished 


other,  shook  hands  and  patted  shoulders 
in  glad  welcome.  "It  is  fine  here,"  said 
the  men,  "we  are  glad  to  be  in  our  new 
Lighthouse." 

CAMIONS  THROUGH  THE  NIGHT. 

As  we  drove  home,  the  young  moon 
hung  low  over  the  hills  across  the  Seine. 
Hurrying,  gray  ammunition  wagons  rum- 


BLIND    SOLDIERS    KNITTING   AT   THE   PHARE   DE    FRANCE 

In  the  rear  is  the  eighth  one-armed  blind  man  helped  to 

reeducation  by  the  Phare  in  Paris. 


the  light  from  it.  The  sticks  of  the  blind 
men  touched  the  palace  steps  as  they 
mounted  to  their  temporary  Lighthouse 
in  the  gardener's  cottage,  situated  on  an 
eminence  above  the  villa. 

"it  is  fine  herk." 

As  our  workmen  entered  their  new 
home,  they  were  welcomed  by  the  waiting 
blind  men  from  the  invaded  provinces. 
Thev    hailed    one    another,    found    each 


bled  past  us.  In  the  road,  against  the 
peaceful  landscape,  a  monster  hooded 
motor,  showed  by  its  unusual  length  that 
it  shrouded  a  great  gun.  High  in  the 
sky  shone  God's  stars,  and  beneath  hung 
the  light  of  an  observation  balloon ;  a 
vigilant  human  eye  watching  to  keep  the 
Hun  from  the  quiet  valley  where  our 
blind  soldiers  had  found  the  Light. 

Winifred  Holt. 


CHRISTMAS  EVE   AND    NEW   YEAR'S   AT   THE    PHARE 


BLIND     THEATRE-MAKERS. 

The  blind  soldiers  got  up  the  enter- 
tainment on  Christmas  Eve  entirely  by 
themselves.  The  little  stage,  which  you 
will  remember  was  on  the  top  floor, 
was  placed  in  the  big  music  room.  The 
scenery,  representing  a  room  with  a  door 
and  a  practical  window,  was  cleaned  and 
put  in  place.  What  memories  must  have 
lingered  about    from    the    old    Duchess' 


stalled.  The  generous  florist  decorated 
the  proscenium  with  plants.  When  all 
was  done,  the  sightless  workers  "looked" 
at  their  achievement,  as  if  they  could  see 
it.  and  pronounced  it  good  ! 

ENTER,    THE    AUDIENCE. 

To  the  right  of  the  stage  stood  a 
Christmas  Tree,  trimmed  with  shining 
stars  and  bright   with  garlands   of  gold 


A  BLIND  PUPIL  OF  THE  PHARE  FENCING  (Right) 


days !  The  wily  Bishop  to  whom  she 
willed  her  property,  and  who  passed  it 
on  to  the  Vatican,  must  have  been  there 
in  spirit,  with  other  gorgeous  prelates, 
who  probably  sat  among  the  brilliant 
audience,  applauding  the  actors  on  that 
miniature  stage. 

The  blind  soldiers  who  constituted 
themselves  a  committee  to  give  us  this 
surprise  party,  ruthlessly  removed  the 
historic  dust  from  the  painted  canvas, 
scrubbed  the  boards  of  the  stage,  nailed 
and  hammered,  sawed  off  planks,  which 
were  too  long  for  the  new  auditorium, 
and  erected  a  fitting  stage  and  a  good 
looking  theatre.  In  place  of  the  old  can- 
dle   footlights,    electric    bulbs    were    in- 


and  silver.  The  conservatory,  adjoining 
the  music  room,  was  fitted  up  with  a 
great  stove.  The  wide  doors  were  open 
and  the  audience  filled  both  rooms. 
Among  it  were  many  blind  soldiers,  their 
guests  and  families,  as  well  as  others 
interested  in  the  work,  all  discreetly 
dressed  in  war  time  fashions.  A  row  of 
seats  was  reserved  for  the  blind  artists. 

OVERTURE. 

Programmes  in  ink  print  and  in 
Braille,  printed  on  the  Lighthouse  Press 
for  the  Blind,  were  distributed.  To  the 
left  of  the  proscenium  an  upright  piano 
was  placed,  and  on  it  the  Overture  was 
played  by  a  pretty  young  Frenchwoman. 


18         A  Report  to  the  Committee   for  Men  Blinded  in  Battle 


SI  JAI   PLEURE  POUR  VOUS." 

Then  came  the  first  number,  a  young 
soldier,  his  eyes  bound,  wearing  his  hard 
earned  decorations,  The  Medialle  Mili- 
taire  and  the  Croix  de  Guerre,  was 
pushed,  not  led  on  the  stage,  by  a  vigor- 
ous, dapper  young  soldier,  with  partial 
sight.  In  a  lovely  tenor,  the  blind  soldier 
sang  "Si  j'ai  pleure  pour  vous."  He  was 
so  unconscious  of  his  own  affliction,  that 
a  wave  of  sympathy  swept  through  the 
gathering.  Then  came  more  music  and 
recitations  with  all  the  verve  of  the  best 
Parisian  cabarets. 

A     CHRISTMAS     CAROL. 

A  blind  Samson  recalled  us  to  the  sa- 
credness  of  the  evening.  Unlike  the 
other  performers,  he  was  not  in  uniform, 
but  wearing  the  ribbons  of  the  War 
Medals.  His  firm  chin  showed  the  force 
which  had  made  him  conquer  despair, 
and  win  his  greatest  battle — his  fight  with 
his  blindness.  Formerly  a  pupil  of  the 
Phare,  he  is  now  an  independent  man, 
doing  again  his  bit  for  the  community  as 
a  stenographer.  He  stood  before  us  in 
black  clothes,  very  pale,  the  footlights 
emphasizing  the  shadow  under  his  big 
brow  and  beneath  the  closed  lids.  Then 
from  that  huge  frame  came  the  throb- 
bing, wonderful  song  of  Christmas: 
"Long  lay  the  world  in  sin  and  darkness 
pining  .  .  ."  The  singer  sang  of  the 
star  that  guided  the  Wise  Men  to  the 
Light  of  the  World;  that  Light  which 
had  led  him  from  his  own  darkness  to 
Salvation. 

A   BLIND  VIOLINIST. 

Next,  a  blind  man  from  the  invaded 
provinces,  his  face  heavily  scarred  but 
with  the  smile  of  a  cherub,  appeared.  He 
was  also  a  giant ;  the  assembly  of  blind 
men  at  the  Phare  that  night  did  much  to 
dispel  the  illusion  that  the  French  were 
a  small  race,  there  were  so  many  big, 
strong  men  among  its  pupils.  On  a  vio- 
lin, the  substitute  given  by  a  Princess  for 
the  one  a  Boche  had  stolen  from  him,  the 
blind  man  played  weird,  haunting  strains, 
and  then  broke  into  a  waltz.     From  be- 


hind the  scenes  the  melody  was  echoed 
by  his  comrades ;  the  audience  began  to 
sway  to  the  magnetic  rhythm.  The  theme 
was  triumphantly  picked  up  by  the  whole 
assembly  and  the  dance  was  concluded 
joyously. 

THE    BLIND   DEBATE   ON    "WOMAN." 

The  second  part  of  the  programme  be- 
gan with  a  heated  discussion  by  two  of 
the  performers,  on  that  most  debatable 
of  all  immortal  subjects,  "Woman."  She 
was  recognized  as  the  source  of  all  evil. 
The  blind  men  thundered  and  roared 
their  eloquence,  tossed  their  persiflage 
like  jugglers'  balls,  with  an  airiness  which 
the  French  alone  can  achieve.  They 
finally  wound  up  their  debate  amidst  de- 
lighted applause  when  they  announced 
simultaneously  that  Woman  was,  after 
all,  the  greatest  achievement  of  the 
Deity. 

BLIND  SOLDIERS   BURLESQUE   BLIND 
BEGGARS. 

More  singing;  then  a  humorous  inter- 
lude and  the  stage  was  set  for  the  last 
number.  Two  blind  men  appeared  in 
grotesque  make-up,  very  red  noses,  osten- 
tatious poverty.  One  wore  a  sign  stat- 
ing in  large  letters  that  he  was  blind  from 
birth,  the  other  wore  an  equally  flagrant 
announcement  that  he  had  lost  his  sight 
from  accident.  From  a  battered  trom- 
bone the  first  beggar  brought  forth  the 
most  excruciating  sounds,  and  the  rival 
mendicant  tried  to  drown  them  with  his 
great  baritone,  which  he  accompanied  on 
the  guitar.  The  scene  was  supposed  to 
represent  a  bridge  on  which  these  char- 
latans, feigning  blindness,  plied  their 
beggars'  trade.  "Les  Deux  Aveugles,"  an 
operetta  by  Offenbach,  with  words  by 
Moineau,  was  performed  with  a  verve 
and  perfection  which  it  would  have  been 
hard  to  surpass,  and  which  was  unques- 
tionably a  triumphant  manifestation  of 
the  courage,  independence  and  humour 
of  the  blind  performers  who  chose  to 
ridicule  blind  hypocrisy,  and  by  so  doing 
pushed  aside  their  own  calamity. 


A  Report  to  the  Committee   for  Men  Blinded  in  Battle  19 


"THE   ENEMY   ATTACK    TOMORROW." 

The  performance  was  ended  amidst  a 
strange  mixture  of  moist  eyes  and  clap- 
ping; the  blind  men  bowed  their  recogni- 
tion and  withdrew.  In  the  front  row 
of  the  audience,  an  officer  in  light  blue, 
wearing  the  button  of  the  Legion  d'Hon- 
neur  and  other  distinguished  decorations, 
rose  and  turned  towards  the  assembly. 
His    arresting    personality    made    those 


man,  who  had  gone  through  torture  and 
had  made  such  a  great  sacrifice  for  his 
country.  "Let  us  turn  our  thoughts,"  he 
said,  "toward  our  countrymen  in  the 
trenches,  on  whom  depends  the  outcome 
of  this  war.  Let  us  all  do  everything 
that  in  us  lies,  to  strengthen  their  hands, 
that  they  may  be  strong,  and  win  in  this 
great  struggle,  which  must  yet  be  de- 
cided ;  the  enemy  is  preparing,  it  will  at- 


In  their  gymnasium,  under  the  guidance  of  an  instructor,  these  blind 
soldiers  are  building  up  health  and  strength  for  the  years  to  come.  All 
of  the  men  in  the  picture  are  wearing  the  Croix  de  Guerre  and  the 
Medaille  Militaire,  and  many  of  them  have  received  stars  and  palms  for 
extraordinary  bravery. 


who  had  started  to  leave  resume  their 
seats.  He  was  blind  and  his  face  badly 
scarred.  Notwithstanding  his  disfigure- 
ment, he  was  remarkably  handsome  ;  in 
a  cello-like  voice,  he  thanked  the  guests 
of  the  Lighthouse,  and  that  fearless  lit- 
tle General,  Mademoiselle  de  Villedon, 
and  her  aids,  as  well  as  the  Committee 
across  the  sea,  which  had  founded  this 
pioneer  school,  for  the  education  of  the 
blind,  this  veritable  House  of  Light.  His 
charming  courtesy  changed  suddenly ;  in 
his  voice  one   felt  the  soul  of  the  blind 


tack  to-morrow;  we  are  on  the  eve  of  a 
great  Settlement." 

OUR    COMMAXDAXT. 

Slowly  the  audience  filed  out.  The 
Commandant  who  had  spoken  had  saved, 
at  the  price  of  his  eyes  and  health,  the 
rear  corps  of  the  French  Army,  at  the 
retreat  of  Charleroi.  Taking  the  arm 
of  the  pretty  little  lady  who  had  been 
the  orchestra,  he  slowly  followed  the 
throng.  In  the  morning  he  had  left  the 
Lighthouse ;  he   was  merely  one  of  the 


20  A  Report  to  the  Committee   for  Men  Blinded  in  Battle 


many  old  pupils  who  had  returned  to  his 
former  school,  where  he  had  found  Light 
in  Darkness,  to  give  thanks  on  Christmas 
Eve.  His  crowded  days  are  now  spent 
as  Director  of  studies  in  a  military  col- 


lege. 


AN  INTERNATIONAL  REVEL. 


When  the  majority  of  seeing  guests 
had  departed,  the  men  gathered  in  the 
two  big  dining  rooms  for  high  revel.  The 
boards  groaned,  as  much  as  is  proper  in 
war  time,  under  good  things  to  eat. 
Champagne  appeared  amid  great  ap- 
plause ;  a  one-armed  blind  lieutenant  act- 
ed as  toastmaster  ;  among  the  guests  were 
a  United  States  Army  major,  a  volun- 
teer teacher  of  nineteen,  Rose,  very 
pretty,  and  blushing  appropriately,  and 
the  Gardienne ;  otherwise,  everyone  was 
French,  Polish  and  Belgian,  with  one 
Russian,  who  had  given  his  eyes  for 
France. 

TOASTS   TO    THE   AMERICANS. 

The  lieutenant,  wearing  his  Legion 
d'Honneur,  and  holding  a  cigarette  in  his 
only  hand,  spoke  of  the  honour  of  having 
an  American  Ally  present  as  their  guest 
and  proposed  a  toast  to  their  guest.  It 
was  drunk  with  enthusiasm.  A  blind 
lawyer  then  proposed  three  rounds  of 
applause  for  the  Major ;  they  were  given 
with  hammerlike  precision.  The  blind 
take  particular  delight  in  the  rhythm  and 
crispness  with  which  they  applaud  to- 
gether. If  the  clapping  does  not  cease  in 
perfect  unison,  there  is  a  "boo"  for  the 
straggler.  Such  a  thing  is  not  military 
or  worthy  of  the  Phare ! 

The  Gardienne's  health  was  drunk, 
also  that  of  the  Directress,  and  a  toast 
was  given  for  Mrs.  Peter  Cooper  Hewitt, 
the  Vice-President  of  the  Lighthouse, 
and  for  the  American  Committee  respon- 
sible for  the  gathering. 

"ALLONS  ENFANTS  DE  LA  PATRIE." 

At  last,  a  dapper  young  Parisian, 
whose  humorous  recitations  had  delight- 
ed everyone  at  the  entertainment,  was 
asked  to  sing  the  great  French  War  Song. 


I  was  surprised  that  the  men  should  se- 
lect one  whose  talents  appeared  to  lie  in 
such  an  opposite  direction,  but  again  I 
had  discounted  the  French  versatility. 
Erect  and  pale,  this  boy  started  the  great 
summons,  "Allons,  enfants  de  la  Patrie." 
As  his  voice  rose,  he  closed  his  wounded 
eyes,  and  threw  his  head  back ;  he  slow- 
ly moved  it  to  the  rhythm  of  the  song  in 
an  ecstasy  of  fervour.  Under  the  lad's 
irresistible  leadership,  everyone  joined 
in  the  singing,  which  ended  in  a  shout 
of  those  seeing  blind  men,  as  they  joined 
together  in  joyful  chorus  to  hail  the  day 
of  victory. 

OUR  ANTHEM  REQUESTED. 

A  little  blind  soldier  who  stood  by  me 
said  to  me,  "But,  dear  Gardienne,  it  is 
not  right  not  to  have  your  country's  song, 
too.  We  owe  this  wonderful  evening  to 
America ;  please  sing  your  National  An- 
them." "Not  now."  I  answered  as  best 
I  could,  as  I  brushed  my  tears  aside,  "but 
thank  you ;  I  and  my  countrymen  love 
you  even  more  for  wanting  our  National 
Anthem  with  yours,  this  Christmas  Eve." 


NEW  YEAR'S  AT  THE  PHARE. 

AN   INVOCATION  TO  THE  PHARE. 

On  New  Year's  Day,  the  Lighthouse 
was  again  the  scene  of  great  festivity. 
The  men  illustrated  luminously  that  it  is 
more  blessed  to  give  than  to  receive. 
They  smiled,  they  applauded ;  they  show- 
ered flowers  on  those  who  had  helped  to 
bring  them  Light.  The  Christmas  Tree 
was  robbed  of  all  its  trimmings.  At 
luncheon,  to  which  the  Gardienne  had 
been  invited,  a  wonderful  basket  of  flow- 
ers, with  ribbons  of  the  Tri-colour  and 
the  American  Flag  intertwined,  was 
given  to  her  by  the  men.  This  graceful 
act  was  inspired  by  a  one-armed  lieuten- 
ant. Immediately  after,  a  touching 
speech  was  delivered  by  one  of  the  work- 
ers, who  alluded  to  the  Light  of  the 
Phare  in  this  affecting  manner: 

"Phare  de  France,  House  of  Light, 
whose  powerful  rays  reach  across  to  our 


A  Report  to  the  Committee   for  Men   Blinded  in    Battle         21 


American  Brothers.   What  is  your  mean- 
ing?   What  is  your  goal? 

This  beautiful  motto  answers  me. 

EX  TENEBRIS  LUX:  Out  of  the 
depths  Light  will  spring. 

You  have  destroyed  the  darkness  and 
accomplished  a  miracle  by  restoring  cour- 
age and  the  power  to  work  to  those  who 
have  suffered  so  cruelly  in  this  World 
War. 


as,  how  long  it  would  take  a  thorough- 
bred snail  to  run  a  mile,  were  propound- 
ed. The  problem  was  presented  by  the 
( lardienne,  and  seriously  debated  by  two 
one-armed  men  and  a  blind  professor  of 
higher  mathematics.  Of  course  it  would 
depend  on  conditions,  physical  and 
climatic.  The  sage  commented  then,  too, 
on  the  temperament  of  the  snail,  and, 
if  perchance  there  were  a  snailess  in  the 
offing.     Yes,  yes,  chorused  the  soldiers, 


A  BLIND  SOLDIER  TYPEWRITING. 

(In  the  background,  a  large  vase,  one  of  the  first  made  by  pupils  of  the 

Sevres  Phare  at  the  Government  Potteries  there.     The  statuettes 

were  made  by  the  blind  sculptor,  Vidal.) 


You  have  given  them  renewed  hope, 
that  'Leaven  of  the  world.' 

PHARE  DE  FRANCE,  you  will  shine 
like  a  beautiful  star  in  our  beloved  Paris. 

May  Blessings  rest  upon  you !  I  salute 
you." 

snail's  speed. 

As  on  Christmas,  toasts  were  drunk 
and  songs  were  sung.  In  between  times, 
but  not  to  the  exclusion  of  the  extremely 
good  dinner,  some  of  the  problems  which 
occupied  the  blind  men's  thoughts,  such 


a  romance,  that  would  make  a  great  dif- 
ference, especially  if  the  racer  happened 
to  be  a  poet.  If  he  were  inclined  to  recite 
lines  to  his  lady's  eyebrows — it  would  be 
the  horns  of  the  snail,  not  eyebrows. 
That  might  be  the  dilemma,  suggested 
someone.  Finally  it  was  agreed  that 
without  distractions,  and  with  no  thought 
but  victory  over  space,  a  fleet  snail  could 
make  a  mile  in  14  days.  "That's  all  we 
need  for  victory,"  said  a  blond  boy;  "if 
we  could  advance  on  our  front  one  mile 


22  A  Report  to  the  Committee   for  Men  Blinded  in  Battle 


in  14  days,  the  war  would  soon  be  con- 
cluded. This  prophecy  was  interrupted 
by  applause.  The  luncheon  terminated, 
as  on  Christmas,  with  the  Marseillaise. 

THE    GARDIENNE    SINGS     '"AMERICA." 

Then    the    Gardienne   was   once   more 
besought    to    sing    an    American    hymn, 


America  had  carried  across  the  sea  in  her 
effort  for  Liberty. 

FRANCIS    ROGERS    SINGS    IT    WITH    A    SOL- 
DIERS'   CHORUS. 

A  few  days  after  New  Year,  at  the 
request  of  the  blind  soldiers  of  the  Phare 
de   France,  this  American   Anthem   was 


PUTTING  ON  PRESS  THE  MOISTENED  PAGES  OF  THE  BRAILLE  MAGAZINE 

Blind  Officers  are  Reading  the  Finished  Page. 


and  this  time  did  not  refuse.  She  sang 
the  last  verse,  and  the  men  were  enthu- 
siastic and  asked  for  the  translation  and 
listened  solemnly  as  she  spoke  of  God 
as  the  American  King  and  Author  of 
Liberty.  She  was  asked  to  repeat  the 
song,  and  did  so  softly ;  the  men  joined 
in  and  in  the  twilight  of  that  old  palace, 
probably  for  the  first  time  in  history,  the 
blind  soldiers  of  France  sang  the  hymn 


put  into  Braille,  music  and  words,  by  the 
printing  press  of  the  Phare.  On  Janu- 
ary 4th,  carefully  reading  with  their  ten 
eyes  the  little  dots  which  spelt  the  song 
for  them,  the  blind  soldiers  sang  it  rever- 
ently at  a  concert.  They  were  led  in 
their  singing  by  Mr.  Francis  Rogers,  who 
has  been  singing  to  the  soldiers  in  the 
huts  of  the  Y.  M.  C.  A.,  and  by  Mrs. 
Berry  Wall,  of  New  York. 

Winifred  Holt 


Now  we  have  reached 

THE  END 

of  our  narrative,  tho  our  financial  report  follows,  but  we  hope  that  yon  who  read 
this  will  now  begin,  and  at  once,  if  you  will  be  so  gracious,  to  send  the  help  these 
brave,  cheerful  defenders  of  yours  need  so  badly  to  our  treasurer,  Mr.  William 
Forbes  Morgan,  in  the  endosed  envelope.  Liberty  Bonds  ("Baby"  or  otherwise) 
cheerfully  accepted. 


A  Report  to  the  Committee   for  Men  Blinded  in  Battle         23 


A  BLIND  BARITONE  SINGING, 
Accompanied  by  the  Organ  at  the  Phare   (Paris) 


Committee  for  Men   Blinded  in   Battle 


RECEIPTS  AND  DISBURSEMENTS 


FOR   THE   PERIOD   FROM 
JUNE  1ST,  1915,  TO  MARCH  22XD,  1918. 
Receipts  : 

Donations    $185,840.52 

Performance   "Lord   Dundreary". 7,814.00 

Performance   "Century   Girl" 3,793.15 

Entertainment  at  Mrs.   Pulitzer's  Residence 3.000.00 

Hero   Land   Bazaar 2.826.52 

Lecture  by  Miss  Holt  at  Greenwich,  Ct 1,680.00 

MacDougal   Alley   Festa 1,250.53 

Interest  on  Liberty  Loan   Bonds 537.30 

Interest   on  Bank   Balance 512.34    $207,254.36 

Disbursements  : 

Direct  Cost  of   Securing  Funds: 

Advertising    $     588.96 

Printing   and   Stationery 4,951.19 

Cables     152.89 

Postage    1,254.58 

Office   Expenses    1,395.00 

Secretarial    Work    2,173.97 

Petty  Cash  Disbursements 408.75 

Vitagraph  Films  Company 281.13 

Office   Supplies    136.75 

Lecture    Tours    2,616.09 

Sundries    449.36    $  14,408.67 

Miscellaneous   Expenditures : 

Transportations   to    France : $  377.50 

Paris  Lighthouse  Equipment 188.80 

Salaries  advanced    558.18 

Sundries    90.00  1,214.48 

Remittances : 

Cash  to  Paris  and  Bordeaux  Lighthouses $98,199.63 

Special    Remittance   via    Farmer's    Loan    and    Trust 

Company,  Paris 3,800.00 

Supplies    Purchased    11,901.67      113,901.30       129,524.45 

Excess  of  Receipts  over  Disbursements  and  Remittances ,     $  77,729.91 

Distributed  as   follows: 

Cash   in   Bank $  47,729.91 

Liberty  Loan    Bonds 30,000.00    $77,729.91 


W.  Forbes  Morgan, 

Treasurer. 


THIS  BOOK  IS  DUE  ON  THE  LAST  DATE 
STAMPED  BELOW 

AN  INITIAL  FINE  OF  25  CENTS 

WILL  BE  ASSESSED   FOR   FAILURE  TO   RETURN 
THIS   BOOK   ON   THE   DATE  DUE.   THE   PENALTY 
WILL  INCREASE  TO  50  CENTS  ON  THE  FOURTH 
DAY    AND    TO    $1.00    ON    THE    SEVENTH     DAY 
OVERDUE. 

FEB    19  1938 

LD  21-95m-7,'37 

TU    <L07  IO 


*38 


UNIVERSITY  OF  CALIFORNIA  LIBRARY 


V 


LETTERS  FROM  FRENCH  SOLDIERS  BLINDED  IN  BATTLE  TO 

"LA  GARDIENNE." 

"Today— a  little  more  than  six  months  after  leaving  the  Lighthouse — I  shall 
try  to  tell  you  of  the  practical  results  of  the  lessons  received  there.  During  the 
thirteen  months  passed  at  the  Lighthouse  I  learned  knitting,  and  when  I  left  in 
April,  I  was  given  a  knitting  machine,  which  is  a  most  precious  possession.  Be- 
fore going  to  the  Lighthouse  I  did  not  believe  in  the  utility  of  re-education,  and 
I  was  very  pessimistic  as  to  the  results,  but  today  all  has  changed,  for  I  feel  that 
I  can  still  be  useful  in  the  world,  and  work  for  my  wife  and  child,  instead  of  be- 
ing a  helpless  burden.  My  business  has  greatly  increased.  I  work  hard  and  am 
thus  enabled  to  attain  the  goal  which  your  teachings  have  set  before  me — success 
in  an  interesting  occupation.  I  heartily  hope  that  all  your  pupils  may  attain  the 
same  results." 

"I  only  know  America  on  the  map,  and  I  did  not  know  any  Americans  until 
- 1  met  you  and  other  friends.  Now  I  feel  a  lasting  gratitude  to  you  and  to  all  your 
countrymen.    Thanks  to  them  and  thanks  to  you,  1  have  been  restored  to  useful- 
ness and  to  happiness,  and  I  shall  never  forget  the  debt  I  owe." 

"We  thank  you  most  heartily  for  your  wonderful  New  Year's  gift.  Not 
content  with  giving  me  the  means  to  walk  towards  the  Light',  you  encourage  and 
help  me  by  sending  me  the  wool  which  is  so  necessary  for  my  work  and  so  diffi- 
cult to  obtain." 

"Before  finally  returning  to  my  home,  I  must  thank  you  again,  as  the  founder 
of  a  greaf  work,  for  which  every  Frenchman  is  grateful  to  you." 

"I  entered  the  Phare  in  the  month  of  September,  1916,  about  five  months 
after  being  wounded,  with  no  plans  and  no  hope  for  the  future.  But  I  began  to 
study  immediately,  thanks  to  the  help  received,  dactylography,  stenography,  Eng- 
lish and  telephone  operating.  Some  months  afterwards,  I  was  as  rapid  on  the 
typewriter  as  a  seeing  man,  and  could  take  stenography  on  the  special  machine 
at  the  speed  of  from  seventy  to  seventy-five  words  a  minute."  * 

"I  have  now  been  for  five  months  with  the  Thomson-Houston  Compffny. 
Each  day  they  bring  me  on  the  dictaphone  disks,  the  summary  of  the  incoming 
mail.  My  work  consists  of  making  many  copies  of  the  text  on  the  disks,  and 
I  these  must  be  made  very  quickly,  as  there  is  a  great  deal  of  work.  I  am  very 
happy  to  have  this  sure  and  well-paid  occupation.  I  owe  it  to  the  re-education 
received  at  the  Phare  de  France,  and  I  know  that  you  will  gladly  say  for  me,  to 
my  new  comrades,  your  pupils,  'Have  courage  and  faith.'  " 

"Through  you,  we  send  to  the  Committee  our  good  wishes  and  grateful 
appreciation  for  the  generous  and  devoted  care  we  have  received." 


A  Beacon  for  the  Blind — with  an  Introduction  by  the  Rt.  Hon.  Viscount  Bryce.  Pub- 
lished by  Houghton,  Mifflin  and  Company — French  Edition  La  Carriere  D'un  Aveugle, 
with  a  preface  by  the  Marquis  de  Vogue,  published  by  Armand  Colin.  This  book  has  also 
been  printed  in  Braille  and  New  York  Point  in  America,  and  in  French  and  English  Braille 
by  The  National  Institute  of  the  Blind  in  London. 


L 


